This year, I expected nothing. I do not really "do" Christmas any more, other than to visit family.

Regardless:

• $125 in cash.
• $15 in Subway gift card.
• A pair of crew-cut socks. I normally wear the lower-cut ones, but socks are socks.
• A 1000-piece A Christmas Story jigsaw puzzle Raspberry and I (and Inu/BMF, to a lesser extent) are working on.

It was nice getting to see the family again, but I wish my mother had did not do what she did. That is a story for another topic some time, though.


The evening of Christmas Eve is spent with my grandfather (dad's side) at his house (in town). This year there were even more of his great-grandchildren, one of which apparently turned the oven on. Other than that, it was loud, obnoxious, and left me with a headache. My father and his wife were there earlier, but left before I arrived. I haven't seen him in a while. This is the second year without grandma. While things weren't quite as solemn as they were last year, I don't know if it'll ever be normal again.

The afternoon of Christmas Day is usually spent at my grandmother (mom's side). This side of the family doesn't have any major great-grandchildren, but a few other friends of the family come. It was largely pleasant and we had a nice time together (with the previous exception...). She has a few French bulldogs and they're always a treat to play with.

Tonight was spent with the rest of the Romhaus crew (BMF, Inuyasha, Raspberry) at a local arcade, alone. We played some pinball, had a mediocre cool pizza and a less-than-mediocre Albertson's deli sandwich, but it was nice to all get out of the house together considering our days off generally don't align.

Tomorrow starts a two-week vacation for me, which is my gift to myself

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(Lv 232 with 190981630 EXP)